Dave Haywood grew up in Wayne, NJ, just outside Manhattan, where he cut his teeth in his brothers’ basement studio before hitting the NYC club circuit in the 1990s. He became a fixture at legendary venues like The Bottom Line and Cafe Wha?, and in 1997, began a series of performances with guitar pioneer Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club. Soon, Dave established himself as a sought after session player in the Tri-State area, leading to multiple European tours.

By 2001, Dave had become one of the top entertainer-guitarists on the Jersey Shore, earning the attention of Jon Bon Jovi, who famously jumped onstage with him for an impromptu jam—sparking years of collaboration with the Bongiovi family. In 2005, Dave moved to South Florida, expanding his career across the Southern U.S., the Caribbean, and South America.

After a 2009 arena performance in Philadelphia, Dave relocated with his family to Charlotte, NC, where he launched a successful acoustic duo with John “Woody” Woodward and also became a featured dueling pianist at Bobby McKey’s in Washington, D.C.

Now based in Charleston, SC, Dave headlines at John King Grill & Dueling Piano Bar and performs across the Carolinas. Averaging more than 300 shows annually, he continues to deliver unforgettable performances on both guitar and piano.